In this blog, I will debate two books. Which is the better long-term investment going forward? Let's pit Tales of Suspense #39 against Fantastic Four #5 and see who comes out on top. One book represents the past, but maybe also the future? The other comic represents the future of the MCU, but in a different light. Both books are from the Silver Age and command high prices on the current market. Lastly, these issues notate very important first appearances of notable characters in the Marvel mythos.

The Rivals

The two comics I am comparing are Tales of Suspense #39 (TOS #39) and Fantastic Four #5 (FF #5). Both issues introduce very important characters in the Marvel universe. Tales of Suspense #39 depicts the first appearance of Iron Man and Fantastic Four #5 notates the first appearance and origin of Doctor Doom.

Notably, these issues are currently items #16 & 66 on GoCollect's Most Popular Silver Age Comic Books for this week as of 09/15/2021. The main reason I chose to compare these books is due to the similar financial values these issues share with each other.

For example, both books graded in a 6.0 have a current FMV of $21,000. In addition, the 8.0 graded value is very close too. The price of TOS #39 is currently at $48,000 and FF #5 is priced at $52,000. It is important to compare books that have similar price ranges when predicting how high can the comic go.

Iron Man's Rise

I am sure this has been said numerous times in regards to the MCU, but I will say it again. The live-action Iron Man #1 is technically the first movie to popularize the current MCU. This has caused at least a chunk of the popularity of the notable character Iron Man and the issue discussed above. Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, carried the MCU through the Infinity Saga from 2008 through 2019. As a result, the character and value rose tremendously. In addition, Robert Downey Jr, the actor who portrayed Iron Man, did a fantastic job in the role and will forever be linked to the character going forward.

Nowadays, fans and collectors still want that piece of history and feeling of nostalgia for this character. The issue is still in demand for collectors, even though the character and actor moved on after the last Avengers movie. The reasons I stated above are enough fuel to keep the price of this issue stable and should slowly increase over time. Remember, "Silver Age" Marvel keys are like a fine wine. They only get more expensive over time, regardless of hype.

Origin of Victor Von Doom - Dr. Doom

Fantastic Four #5 is a very important key issue for Marvel and their media universe. It notates the first appearance and origin of Victor Von Doom, otherwise known as Doctor Doom. It is also a famed Silver Age comic in the very popular and original Fantastic Four series. Lately, very early issues of this series are scarce in high grades and very pricey. The financial comparisons of this issue to TOS #39 are very similar, but the character has not appeared yet in the MCU.

Doom is heavily rumored to join the MCU in the very near future. The issue is guessing when that will be. Many speculators believe the possible debut will occur in the upcoming Antman 3 movie in 2023. The reason being that the Fantastic Four could make their debut in the movie.

His ties to many Marvel characters would be a good reason for his long-term growth in the market and in the MCU. His feuds and battles are not tied to one Marvel character. Comic history details altercations with characters such as Namor, Black Panther, Silver Surfer, The Hulk, Thor, The Avengers, and The X-Men.

Inversely, Doom also teams up with characters and can be used in a more positive light as well. He has made temporary partnerships with heroes such as Iron Man, Reed Richards, and Loki. Doom has the versatility to start in the MCU as a "big bad" and end his theatrical run as a hero. Either way, his growth from his first appearance is just beginning.

All in all, both comics have their strong points on who will have the higher value at the end of the day. Both are sure bets for financial stability going forward, as collectors will continue to invest Silver Age Marvel comic key books. The question is, which book has the better growth going forward?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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